Hiking the Mont Blanc Massif, Day 5-Les Contamines 勃朗峰山脉徒步游第五天
July 31, 2024
Today was a hiking day......
今天是徒步日。。。
July 31, 2024: Today was a hiking day. We started the day by taking the free shuttle to Notre Dame de la Gorge, a charming and historic chapel that serves as a key starting or ending point for the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB). After a brief visit, we took the Gorge cable car up and then transferred to another one to reach Signal.
From Signal, we hiked 2.6 miles to Refuge des Prés. The hiking was not too hard and the view was magnificent.
At the refuge, we enjoyed a delicious lunch while Chenggang had his own sandwich bought in the town.
We were mindful of the lift's closing time at 5 pm, so this time we didn’t delay and made sure to head back promptly. The round trip hike covered 5.2 miles with a 1,200 ft elevation gain, which we completed in 3.5 hours. Upon returning to the cable car station, we found ourselves with some extra time. We decided to relax and have another drink at the café, soaking in the magnificent views of the surrounding landscape. When we finally descended back to the base, we opted for the shuttle instead of walking back to town.
Overall, it was a perfect day of hiking—ideal weather, breathtaking views, and just the right amount of distance and elevation. We returned to the town and found a well-reviewed restaurant to enjoy a hearty meal as a reward for ourselves.
勃朗峰山脉徒步游第五天-莱斯康塔米纳
2024年7月31日：今天是徒步日。我们搭乘免费的班车前往圣母峡谷教堂（（Notre Dame de la Gorge）。这是一座迷人的历史教堂，也是环勃朗峰徒步线路（TMB）的一个重要起点或终点。短暂参观后，我们乘坐峡谷缆车上山，然后换乘另一条缆车到达信号(Signal)。
从信号出发，我们徒步了2.6英里到达了普雷斯小山屋（Refuge des Pres)。路不算太难，但最后半个多小时的上坡路还是有点气喘吁吁的。眼看着小山屋就在前方，却感觉怎么都走不到。在那里享用了一顿丰盛的午餐之后，因为缆车下午5点关闭，这次我们吸取了教训，毫不耽搁地开始返回。整个往返徒步行程为5.2英里/8.3公里，海拔爬升1200英尺，我们用3.5小时完成了全部行程。
回到缆车站时，我们发现还有充裕的时间，于是我们三人在咖啡馆里坐下休息，喝些饮料，欣赏周围的美景。下到山脚后，我们不太想再走回镇上，于是又搭乘了免费班车。这是一次很棒的徒步之旅——完美的天气、令人叹为观止的景色，以及恰到好处的徒步距离和海拔爬升。
回到镇上找了家评论不错的饭店饱餐一顿犒劳一下自己。
Hiking the Mont Blanc Massif, Day 4- next stop 勃朗峰山脉徒步游第四天
July 30, 2024
We moved to the next town, ......
今天我们搬到了下一个小镇，。。。
July 30, 2024: We moved to the next town, Les Contamines-Montjoie, France, today. Although Les Contamines is only 20 miles away from Chamonix, there is no direct public transportation. We had to transfer in Saint-Gervais, by an hourly train or bus that runs every two hours. We opted for the train to Saint-Gervais, with the main train station in Chamonix being a 15-minute walk from our hotel. While the regional train is free within the Chamonix valley, it does not cover our destination, so we had to purchase tickets for the last two stops.
The train arrived at Saint-Gervais on time, but the bus to Les Contamines was more than an hour away, so we took the opportunity to enjoy a French lunch of crepes with ham and cheese at a nearby café.
We eventually boarded bus Y84 to Les Contamines. The two-bedroom apartment we rented was just a 2-minute walk from the bus stop. It was a nice apartment, but interestingly, we had to rent the bedding and towels separately. We also discovered no toilet paper and other essentials in the unit. Fortunately, there are three supermarkets nearby, so we bought the necessities for our stay. Once we settled in, we were eager to explore the area.
A community concert was happening in a park near Notre Dame de la Gorge, so we took a free city shuttle to check it out. The park, an adventure activity area for kids, had a BBQ restaurant where a two-man band was playing and singing. We sat there, sipping espresso and enjoying ice cream while listening to the music.
Afterward, we followed the TMB signs and walked about 2 miles back to town. Dinner was a pre-made pizza from the nearby grocery store Carrefour, and it wasn't bad at all.
勃朗峰山脉徒步游第四天 - 赶往下一站
2024年7月30日：今天我们搬到了下一个小镇——法国的莱斯康塔米纳（Les Contamines-Montjoie）。虽然莱斯康塔米纳距离霞慕尼（Chamonix）只有20英里，但没有直达的公共交通。我们不得不在圣热尔韦（Saint-Gervais）转乘，可以选择每小时一班的火车或每两小时一班的巴士。我们选择了乘火车到圣热尔韦，从我们酒店步行到霞慕尼的主要火车站大约需要15分钟。虽然霞慕尼山谷内的区域火车是免费的，但它不包括我们的目的地，因此我们不得不为最后两站购买车票。
火车准时到达圣热尔韦，但到莱斯康塔米纳的巴士还有一个多小时才到，于是我们利用这段时间在附近的饭店享用了法式午餐——火腿奶酪可丽饼。
最终我们登上了Y84路巴士前往莱斯康塔米纳。我们租的短期两居室公寓（Airbnb)距离巴士站仅有2分钟的步行路程。公寓很不错，厨房设备齐全。但奇怪的是，我们需要租用床上用品和浴室毛巾。我们还发现公寓里没有任何基本的生活必需品包括卫生纸。幸运的是，附近有三家超市，我们买了所需的用品。安顿好之后我们便出门去熟悉一下这个小镇及周边。
在靠近圣母教堂（Notre Dame de la Gorge）的一座公园里正在举行社区音乐会，于是我们搭乘免费的市区班车去看了看。到那里才发现这个公园是一个为孩子们设立的冒险活动区。里面有一家餐厅，两名歌手边弹边唱，有不少观众坐着观看。我们也凑个热闹，坐下一边喝着咖啡，一边吃着冰淇淋，享受现场音乐表演。
之后，我们沿着TMB的指示牌步行了大约2英里回到了小镇。晚餐是从家乐福（Carrefour）买的预制披萨，在租的公寓里自己烤了吃。出乎意料，披萨味道很好，不比饭店的差。
Hiking the Mont Blanc Massif, Day 3 -Chamonix 勃朗峰山脉徒步游第三天
July 29, 2024
Today, we each had different plans......
今天我们各自安排了不同的活动。。。
July 29, 2024: Today, we each had different plans: Chenggang went hiking alone, while Connie and our daughter opted for a more relaxed day, making use of their cable car passes.
Chenggang set off early, walking about 1.5 miles to the La Flégère valley station in Les Praz. From there, he took the cable car up to La Flégère and then transferred to the ski lift heading to L’Index. The mountain was incredibly peaceful in the morning. As he slowly ascended on the lift, it felt like he was the only person on the mountain, with only the gentle breeze and the distant sound of cowbells keeping him company—a scene straight out of a dream. After a brief stop at the top, he took the lift back down to La Flégère.
From La Flégère, Chenggang hiked to Planpraz, covering 3.3 miles (5.6 km) with an elevation gain of 1,100 feet. He completed the hike in less than two hours. At the 2000 Alt restaurant, he enjoyed an espresso and sparkling water, along with a ham and cheese sandwich he had brought for lunch. Afterward, he took the cable car back down to town, wrapping up his day of hiking.
Meanwhile, Connie and her daughter planned to visit the Aiguille du Midi again in the morning, as they hadn’t had time to visit the glass box at the top tower yesterday. However, just having a pass wasn’t enough—they also needed a timed entry ticket, and the earliest slot they could get was at 2:30 pm. With a few hours to spare, they took the bus to Les Praz, then the cable car up to La Flégère, and the lift to L’Index. By the time they arrived at La Flégère, Chenggang was long gone to Planpraz. They also saw the herds of cows and sheep grazing on the slopes, with patches of snow still on the mountains. The stunning scenery made the cable car ride worthwhile for the mother and daughter, who preferred not to hike. They had lunch at the Refuge de La Flégère midway up the mountain, then returned to town to prepare for their visit to the Aiguille du Midi.
At the cable car station, they watched a 20-minute 4D movie about Mont Blanc, which made the audience feel as if they were flying through the sky like birds, taking in the majestic views of Mont Blanc and experiencing the sensation of lightning, thunder, and snowstorms. Both found it to be a fascinating experience.
The glass box at the Aiguille du Midi, known as the “Step into the Void,” is the highest attraction in Europe. After taking the cable car, they had to take an elevator to the topmost level. All personal belongings had to be stored away, and they had to wear special slippers before stepping into the small glass box. Connie said standing there made her knees weak, and she didn’t dare to look down much. Groups of two to three people were quickly ushered in and out, with staff helping to take photos. Of course, the quality of the pictures wasn’t guaranteed.
After descending from the Aiguille du Midi, they returned to Chamonix town center to meet Chenggang for dinner. The town has countless restaurants, and we let our daughter pick one she liked.
We have spent several days in Chamonix, but tomorrow it’s time to move on to their next destination.
2024年7月29日: 今天我们各自安排了不同的活动：Chenggang去徒步，而Connie和女儿则继续使用缆车通票来个轻松游。
Chenggang一大早出发，步行约1.5英里到达Les Praz的La Flégère缆车山谷站，然后乘坐缆车上到La Flégère，接着换乘滑雪用的升降椅前往de L’Index。早晨的山间非常安静。坐在升降椅上慢慢往山上去，整座山仿佛只有自己一个人，伴随着微风和远处的牛铃声，宛如置身梦境。来到在山顶上稍作停留，便又坐升降椅返回La Flégère。
从Flégère开始徒步到Planpraz，全程3.3英里/5.6公里，海拔上升1100英尺。Chenggang用了不到两个小时完成了这段徒步。在2000 Alt餐厅喝上一杯意式浓缩咖啡和气泡水，再加早上买了带着的火腿奶酪三明治作为午餐。之后乘坐缆车回到了镇上，结束了这一天的短程徒步。
与此同时，Connie和女儿计划早上再去南针峰（Aiguille du Midi），因为昨天没时间去最高塔里的玻璃屋。但坐这缆车光有票还不够，还必须拿时间段的票，结果她们只拿到了下午2:30的票。于是她们乘公交车也去了Les Praz，然后也乘坐缆车到La Flégère，再坐升降椅上到de L’Index。沿途山坡上有成群的牛羊，山上还有雪。这么漂亮，对不愿爬山的母女俩来说光是坐个缆车来上面看看景发个呆也蛮不错。她们在半山腰的Refuge de La Flégère吃了午餐，随后返回镇中心准备上Aiguille du Midi峰。缆车站有放关于勃朗峰的4D电影，二十分的4D短片让观众像鸟一样在天空中飞翔，看勃朗峰的雄姿，同时也感受到电闪雷鸣，风雪交加的滋味，她们俩都觉得是一次蛮有意思的经历。
南针峰上的空中玻璃屋(Step into the the Void)是欧洲最高的景点，除了坐缆车，还要另外再坐电梯上到最高层面。必须将所有的随身物品存放掉，换上专门提供的拖鞋慢慢走进小玻璃屋。Connie说站在那里让人腿发软，不怎么敢往下看。二到三人一组快进快出，工作人员帮忙拍照留念。当然照片的质量就不能保证了。
从南针峰下来回到霞慕尼 (Chamonix)镇中心与Chenggang 会合吃晚饭。镇上饭店不计其数，女儿找了家她喜欢的饭店。
来霞慕尼好几天了，明天要去下一站。
Hiking the Mont Blanc Massif, Day 2-Chamonix 勃朗峰山脉徒步游第二天
July 28, 2024
We took a scheduled rest day today.....
今天是我们的休息日。。。
July 28, 2024: We took a scheduled rest day today after a long hour hike yesterday. We bought a two-day lift pass to use the lifts to explore the area. Due to the high wind in the mountains, the Mont Blanc Panoramic cable car was not open in the morning. But we were told the update for the panoramic ride was at noon, so we booked the gondola for Midi before 12.
Today’s weather was perfect. First, the gondola took us to Plan De l’aiguille then switched to a different gondola to Aiguille du Midi at 12605 feet, the highest cable car in France. Once we were at the top, we quickly went to the ticket window for Panoramic Mont Blanc, and it had just started to open. Panoramic Mont Blanc Cable Car is a 30-minute ride over the glaciers from Aiguille du Midi in France to Pointe Helbronner in Italy with a panoramic view of the Mont Blanc massif. We embarked on one of three cars in a group and had a once-a-lifetime cable ride. We were completely surrounded by the blue sky and the mountains capped with white glaciers. We admired roped climbers scaling the glaciers below as our cable car moved slowly from France to Italy.
After getting off at Pointe Helbronner in Italy, at an elevation of 11,358 ft (3,462 m), we wanted to have lunch at the mountaintop restaurant, but it was already fully booked. So, we just had a coffee and a small pastry as a quick snack. Then, we went to the small 360-degree viewing platform at the summit to take photos of Mont Blanc at the closest distance.
At Pointe Helbronner, we used our two-day lift passes to get on a Skyway cable car down to Courmayeur, Italy. There is not much near the Skyway station, so we just had drinks in a cafe, went up via Skyway, and got off in the middle to visit Europe’s highest garden.
We knew the cable car back to France would be closed at 4:30 pm. At 4:10 pm, we were in a hurry to return to the cable car station for another 5-minute ride to the Pointe Helbronnor. However, we barely missed a gondola and waited for the next one, which would take us up to the top to catch the Panoramic Cable Car. The gondola came, and the crews decided to clean up the car and started to do the maintenance. It made us anxious, but there was nothing we could do about it. We patiently waited until they finished the job and started the gondola again. When the car reached the top, three of us rushed to the cable car station at 4:28 pm. The door to the embarking area was already closed. A crew member opened the door and let us in. We were the last people in the last car to leave Italy. We were so grateful that we made it. If not, we had to go down to Courmayeur again and perhaps take the bus going through the tunnel back to Chamonix.
The Panoramic Cable Car ride back to Aiguille du Midi was even better. The experience of traveling over glaciers and surrounded by mountains was one of the best we had had, probably second to the experience in Antarctica.
Once at the Midi point, we continued to explore the area. We watched two Austrian climbers come down from the rock and took some pictures of them. Later, we sent those pictures to them via WhatsApp. They started at 8:30 am and finished at 6 pm. We wanted to spend more time at the top, but the last car down was 6:30 pm. They closed the area, and we were the last group to go down.
It was supposed to be a break day, but we didn’t make it easy. Once we were back in town, we had dinner in an Indian restaurant. The food was delicious, probably anything delicious after a whole day's activity. Chamonix was very charming and beautiful in the evening. It’s perfect for an after-meal walk.
2024年7月28日：昨天的长途跋涉让我们疲惫不堪，今天是我们的休息日，不爬山。我们买了两日的霞慕尼（Chamonix)缆车通票，方便游玩。今天早上由于山上风太大，山顶上的勃朗峰全景缆车没开。不过工作人员告诉我们，12点会有信息更新。我们决定在中午12点之前先乘坐缆车到南针峰（Aiguille Du Midi)。
今天的天气非常理想。首先我们乘坐缆车到达普朗德拉艾居站，然后换乘另一条缆车到达法国最高的缆车站——海拔12,605英尺的南针峰。到达山顶后，我们立刻去全景缆车售票窗口，发现缆车刚刚开放。勃朗峰全景缆车是一次30分钟的旅程，从法国的南针峰跨越冰川到达意大利的赫尔布罗纳峰，沿途可以欣赏到勃朗峰山脉的壮丽景色。小缆车在半空中被蔚蓝的天空和白雪覆盖的山峰环绕，慢慢地将我们从法国带到了意大利。沿途看到不少登山者在冰川上攀爬。
在意大利赫尔布罗纳峰(Pointe Helbronner) at 11358 ft (3,462 m)下车后，想在山顶餐厅里吃上个午餐，可餐厅巳满座，我们就随意喝杯咖啡吃个小面食了事。然后在就山顶上360度小平台上最近距离和勃朗峰留影。
利用我们二日通票乘坐360度旋转天空缆车下到库马约尔（Courmayeur)。没想到天空缆车站附近什么都没有，且离库马约尔小镇还有点距离。在缆车站旁的咖啡馆喝了咖啡之后我们便原路返回，并在中途停下参观了欧洲最高的植物园。我们知道从意大利赫尔布罗纳峰返回法国的全景缆车在下午4:30关闭，所以我们在4:10时急忙赶往天空缆车站准备返回赫尔布罗纳峰。不巧刚好错过了一班缆车，不得不等下一班。可缆车一到工作人员却告诉说要先做维护，我们只能耐心等待，直到维护完成，缆车重新启用。到达赫尔布罗纳峰后，我们迅速赶到全景缆车站，此时已是4:28。所幸一名工作人员及时看到我们，特地打开了已关闭的门。我们总算坐上最后一班返回法国的全景缆车，否则将不得不返回库马约尔，然后可能需要乘坐巴士通过隧道回到霞慕尼。回程的全景缆车之旅再一次让我们穿越冰川，置身群山之间，很震撼。
回到法国的南针峰后，正好看到两位攀岩者从陡峭的岩壁上慢慢下来，顺手拍了些照片。这二位奥地利来的攀岩者从早上8:30就开始攀爬，只到到下午近6点才完成。稍后通过WhatsApp我们将照片发送给了他们。尽管我们希望在山顶多待些时间多看看，最后一班下山的缆车是下午6:30，我们又是最后一批离开的游客。
回到镇上后，我们在一家印度餐馆享用了美味的晚餐。忙忙碌碌一整天后，吃什么都觉得格外香。
Hiking the Mont Blanc Massif, Day 1- Chamonix 勃朗峰山脉徒步游第一天
July 27, 2024
The Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) is ......
环绕勃朗峰山脉，。。。
July 27, 2024: The Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) is a well-known long-distance hiking trail that encircles the Mont Blanc massif. After researching the trails and discussing options with friends who have completed the TMB, we decided that attempting the entire route or even half of it wasn't the best choice for us. Instead, we designed our own version of a more comfortable and flexible TMB, consisting of several day hikes from three different towns, allowing for a completely adaptable schedule. This way, we could decide whether to hike based on weather conditions and how we felt each day.
Our first stop was Chamonix, France, where we stayed for four nights at the Plan B Hotel, conveniently located next to the bus station.
After a delicious breakfast at a local bakery café, we set off for our first hike. We walked to the Planpraz gondola station and took the gondola up to Planpraz. From there, we switched to the Brévent Cable Car, which took us to Le Brévent, at an altitude of 8,285 feet. The view from the summit was absolutely breathtaking, offering us our first glimpse of Mont Blanc peeking out from behind the clouds.
Eager to begin our descent, we enthusiastically started our hike down to Refuge de Bellachat for lunch.
Although the food at the refuge was decent, it was the magnificent view that truly made the experience memorable.
After lunch, we continued our descent towards Les Houches. The downhill trail proved to be tough on our knees, and we found ourselves slowing down significantly after lunch. Despite our initial energy, we quickly realized the second half of the hike was more challenging than anticipated. Other hikers seemed to pass us with ease, swiftly disappearing from sight as we continued our descent.
The descent covered approximately 5,000 feet and 7.5 miles, taking us close to six hours to complete. Though everyone was exhausted by the end, we managed to take a group photo in front of the iconic TMB gate, a testament to our accomplishment.
Afterward, we took the bus back to Chamonix. Too tired to venture far for dinner, we opted for a nearby pizza place adjacent to our hotel. The day was exhausting but rewarding, and we were glad to have made it through our first hike in the Mont Blanc region.
2024年7月27日：环绕勃朗峰山脉，途经法国，意大利和瑞士的环勃朗峰徒步路线（TMB）是一条著名的长途徒步路线，全程总长103英里/165公里。经过对路线的研究，并与完成过TMB的朋友们交流后，我们觉得整个环绕徒步行，甚至连走一半都不适合我们。相反，我们自行安排了一条更加灵活的TMB版本，安营扎寨三个不同的小镇。每个小镇住几天，而不是每天挪一个窝。挑选了从三个不同小镇出发的几条日间徒步路线，充分利用公交，火车和缆车，允许我们根据天气和当天的身体状况自由决定是否进行徒步。
我们的第一站是法国霞慕尼（Chamonix)。我们在这里住四晚，酒店紧邻车站，位置非常便利。
昨晚到达这里，先稍微熟悉一下小镇。今天一早在镇上一家面包咖啡馆享用完美味早餐后，我们开始了第一天的徒步之旅。我们步行来到缆车站，乘坐缆车上到Planpraz，然后换乘Brévent缆车，抵达海拔8285英尺的山顶Le Brévent。山顶的景色绝对令人惊叹，让我们第一次在云层的缝隙中窥见勃朗峰的雄姿。
带着兴奋的心情，我们开始徒步下山。接下来几个小时将是全程下坡，且路很长。大约二个小时左右我们来到Bellachat小山屋。在那里小息并享用了简单的午餐。虽然食物一般，但周围的景色让人心旷神怡。
午餐后，我们继续往莱苏什（Les Houches)镇走。下坡路对我们的膝盖颇具挑战，午餐后我们的步伐明显慢了下来。尽管一开始充满活力，但我们很快意识到下半段的徒步比想象中更困难。其他徒步者似乎轻松超过我们，很快就消失在我们的视线中。
终于走到了Les Houches小镇。这段路程下降了大约5000英尺，我们行走了7.5英里/12公里，花费了将近六个小时才完成。Connie本来膝盖就不好，今天的路对她而言很艰难。尽管每个人都筋疲力尽，但我们还是在标志性的TMB大门框前合影留念。
之后，我们乘坐公交车返回霞慕尼。由于太累无心走远，我们选择了酒店旁边的一家披萨店用餐。今天虽然疲惫却充实，我们为自己在勃朗峰地区的第一次徒步感到自豪。
Lyon, France 里昂
July 26, 2024
We spent the whole morning exploring the historic city of Lyon.......
昨晚上到里昂时已经很晚，。。。
July 26, 2024: We spent the whole morning exploring the historic city of Lyon. Our day began with an Uber ride to the old town, where we found a small café for breakfast. Next, we walked to the funicular station, which took us to Fourvière Hill to see the magnificent Basilica of Notre Dame. The platform behind the church offered breathtaking panoramic views of Lyon, but the basilica's interior truly captivated us. The lavish mosaics and stained glass decorations felt like incredible paintings from a distance.
After soaking in the views and the beauty of the basilica, we made our way down to Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon), a UNESCO World Heritage site. We wandered through the narrow streets and discovered the famous traboules, the secret passageways connecting different streets, which were used by silk weavers centuries ago. Unfortunately, we didn't have more time to savor Lyon's renowned cuisine, as we had a train to catch to Geneva, Switzerland.
But at least while at the train station, we had a wonderful lunch before leaving Lyon. Our train ride took three and a half hours, and upon arrival at the Geneva station, we met with our daughter, who had flown in from New York City a couple of days earlier. The next ten days were meant to be a family vacation, but our son had to cancel his trip due to a hip injury he sustained while running. The doctor advised against traveling, so it was just the three of us on this adventure.
Geneva is not our final destination for the day yet. We boarded the bus to Chamonix, France, the starting point of our Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) adventure. Since our bus was delayed, we enjoyed a simple meal at a cafe with a great view near the bus terminal while waiting.
Finally, we arrived in Chamonix, France. Our hotel room at Plan B in Chamonix offered a stunning view of the sunset, making for a perfect end to the day.
2024年7月26日：昨晚上到里昂（Lyon)时已经很晚，直接入住酒店休息了。今天一早就出门对这座历史悠久的城市来个短短的到此一游。
我们乘坐Uber到里昂的老城区（old town), 先找了家咖啡馆吃个简单的早餐。清晨街上几乎没人，非常安静。然后走到缆车站坐缆车上福尔维耶山去看圣母大教堂。教堂后面的观景平台提供了里昂的全景视野，但教堂内部的装饰才真正让我们震撼。那些从远处看到的墙上，顶上一幅幅令人惊叹的精美画作，走近时才发现居然全部是用华丽的马赛克拼图而成的。其实整个教堂内部包括地上用的都是马赛克，再加上那些彩色玻璃，显得非常漂亮。
我们没再坐缆车下山，而是从山上一路走下来回到了老里昂区。这里属于联合国教科文组织的世界遗产之一。有着狭窄的街道，还有著名的traboules，这些是用于连接街道之间的秘密通道，以前是丝绸织工使用的。如今有几个通道对外开放。为了寻找这几个小通道，我们在老城区的小巷里走了不少路。每找到一个，进去走一走都会兴奋一下。遗憾是今天只能有半天的时间游里昂，因为我们得赶火车去日内瓦（Geneva)。
在里昂火车站里找了家看着有点高级的餐厅吃午餐，没英文菜单，但一位热情的服务员还能说上几个单词。结果上来的菜每一道都很好吃，就是觉得都不像我们所点的。因为要赶火车，急急忙忙吃完。最后还是忍不住问了服务员，她还真把所有菜都搞错了。本来还遗憾没能在里昂享受美食，结果在火车站解决了。
三个半小时的火车旅程后，我们从法国里昂来到瑞士的日内瓦。在火车站见到了提前从纽约飞来的女儿。这本该是一次家庭度假，但由于儿子在跑步时髋部受伤，医生建议他不要旅行，所以他在最后时刻取消了行程。于是接下来的旅程就变成三人行了。
从日内瓦，我们乘坐巴士前往法国的霞慕尼（Chamonix), 开始我们的勃朗峰（Mont Blanc）之旅。
Madrid，Spain 马德里
July 24, 2024
We took a five-hour train from Seville to Madrid......
早上在酒店吃完早餐后叫了Cabify送我们去火车站，。。。
July 24, 2024: We took a five-hour train from Seville to Madrid. The long-distance train ride provided much-needed rest and an opportunity to see the countryside. We prefer trains over planes when possible for the comfort and views they offer.
After checking into our hotel, we headed to the Royal Palace of Madrid. Although it is the official residence of the Spanish royal family, it is now used only for state ceremonies, unlike the more actively used palace in Seville. The palace is enormous, and we followed the flow of tourists through the grand rooms, taking in the opulent architecture and decor.
Next, we visited the “Gallery of Spanish Royal Collections,” which houses the royal family's art collection, now owned by the state. The collection is stunning, and we made our way through it quickly, gaining some insights into Spain's history along the way. Then we went to the Cathedral for a quick look.
Our first stop for food was the San Miguel Market, which is similar to the Time Out Market in Lisbon, offering drinks and tapas. Unfortunately, it was so hot inside the building that we only ordered three pieces of tapas before leaving. We found a restaurant near the Plaza Mayor and enjoyed a delicious paella.
Afterward, we strolled back to our hotel and called it a night. Along the way, we tried out Madrid’s churros, which are similar to the ones we have in the States, but we much preferred Seville’s churros—no comparison there.
July 25, 2024: This morning, we visited the Retiro Park before catching our train to Lyon, France. On the way to the park, we searched for breakfast places, but none opened before 9 AM. We ended up waiting in line for a small spot in a residential area to open, but the wait was worth it—the baked eggs we ordered were delicious.
Retiro Park is a vast and picturesque space in the city center, popular with both locals and tourists. We leisurely strolled around the central lake area and admired the gardens and monuments. However, we had to hurry to board our train to Lyon.
There is no direct train from Madrid to Lyon, so we took Spain’s high-speed train to a small city in France, then transferred to France’s high-speed train with a 15-minute layover. Knowing the unreliability of some European train systems and the potential for a French train worker strike, we were concerned about missing the connection, as it was the last train to Lyon for the day. Fortunately, the transfer was on the same platform and went smoothly. We arrived in Lyon at night and rested at the hotel.
This Madrid trip was a short but memorable journey, offering a glimpse into its royal history, art, and vibrant culinary scene. Despite the challenges with the heat and train connections, the experience was enriching and enjoyable.
2024年7月24日：早上在酒店吃完早餐后叫了Cabify送我们去火车站，乘坐从塞维利亚(Seville)到马德里(Madrid)的火车。五小时的长途火车旅行为我们提供了急需的休息机会，同时也让我们欣赏到了沿途的乡村风光。相比于飞机，我们更喜欢乘坐火车，因为它更舒适且风景宜人。
到达马德里后，我们还是叫Cabify送我们去酒店。其实酒店离火车站很近，网约车反而要绕道，好在车直接把我们送到酒店门口。办理了酒店入住手续，我们赶紧前往参观马德里王宫，也是提前网上买好的票。虽然这是西班牙皇室的官方住所，但现在仅用于国家仪式，不再作为日常居住场所，这一点与塞维利亚的王宫不同。王宫非常宏伟，我们随着游客的流动参观了各个房间，欣赏了那里的奢华建筑和装饰。
接下来，我们去了旁边的西班牙皇家收藏馆。皇家家族的艺术收藏品现在归国家所有。这个收藏非常多，我们快速浏览了一遍，同时了解了一些西班牙的历史。
然后，我们去了圣米格尔(San Miguel)市场，这地方类似于里斯本的Time Out室内市场，提供各种饮品和小吃。只是今天的马德里也是近四十度的高温。市场内人山人海且没有空调，热的让人受不了，我们走了一圈后只点了三份小吃就赶紧离开了。之后，我们在马约尔广场附近找到了一家餐厅，享用了一顿简单的海鲜饭。
2024年7月25日：今天我们离开马德里，前往法国里昂(Lyon)。走之前抓紧时间参观一下丽池公园。在去公园的路上，我们想找家早餐店，但大多数店铺早上9点之前都不开门。最终我们在住宅区的一家小店门口排队等候，虽然等了一段时间，但这里的焗蛋确实非常美味，值得一试。
漂亮的丽池公园位于市中心，深受当地人和游客的喜爱。我们绕着中央湖区走了一圈，看看周围的花园和纪念碑。只是我们的时间不多，不得不加快脚步，因为要去赶前往里昂的火车。
在火车站，我们尝试了马德里的吉拿棒（churros），虽然它们与我们在美国吃到的很相似，但我们更喜欢塞维利亚的吉拿棒，两者真的没有可比性。由于从马德里到里昂没有直达火车，我们先乘坐西班牙的高速列车到达法国的一个小城市，然后转乘法国的高速列车，中间只有15分钟的转车时间。考虑到欧洲火车系统有时不太可靠，且法国铁路工人可能会罢工，我们对能否赶上当天最后一班开往里昂的火车有些担心。幸运的是，转车是在同一站台进行的，过程非常顺利。我们于晚上顺利到达里昂，并入住酒店休息。
这次的马德里之旅虽短，却也让我们稍微领略了这座城市的悠久历史、丰富的艺术文化以及充满活力的美食场景。尽管在高温和火车换乘方面遇到了一些挑战，这段旅程还是很愉快有收获的。
Seville，Spain 塞维利亚
July 23, 2024
Today was the hottest day of our trip so far in Seville, ......
今天的塞维利亚（Seville）是我们这次行程到目前为止最热的一天，。。。
July 23, 2024: Today was the hottest day of our trip so far in Seville, with temperatures reaching 104°F/40°C, rivaling those in Phoenix. Despite the heat, our day was packed with activities. Seville is a historic European city. During the Age of Exploration, it was the exclusive port for trade with the New World, which led to a period of economic prosperity. Many significant buildings were constructed during this time. However, as the river silted up, the center of trade moved elsewhere, causing the city’s economy to decline.
After enjoying a buffet breakfast at our hotel, we headed out to our first stop, the Plaza de España. This massive semi-circular building was constructed for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition and now houses government offices and exhibition halls. The plaza's walls are lined with niches, each representing a different province of Spain. We first visited the Seville Military History Museum and then explored every accessible part of the plaza. The architecture was breathtaking, and photos simply couldn't capture its grandeur.
Next, we visited the Seville Cathedral. We had pre-purchased tickets for a guided tour. This Roman Catholic cathedral, built on the site of a former Muslim mosque, is now the third-largest cathedral in the world and the largest Gothic cathedral. The interior might be the most spectacular we’ve seen so far. It contains 80 chapels, including the Royal Chapel. In addition to several Spanish royalty buried there, the most famous is Christopher Columbus. His remains have been relocated several times, finally resting here. Columbus's son is also buried in the cathedral. The bell tower, once the minaret of the old mosque, was heightened when the cathedral was built. Instead of stairs, the ascent to the top is a series of ramps that spiral upward in a counterclockwise direction, following Muslim tradition.
After the cathedral, we visited the nearby Royal Alcázar of Seville. We had also pre-purchased tickets for this visit. First, we toured the residential area on the upper floors, which is still an official residence of the King. Separate tickets are required for this part, and visits are strictly timed. Security was tighter here than anywhere else we’ve been; all belongings had to be stored in lockers, and nothing could be carried with us. Each group consisted of about ten people. After passing through security, we were escorted by two guards—one leading the way and one at the rear. We couldn’t linger in any room; after viewing one, the door was locked, and we moved to the next. No phones were allowed, so we couldn’t take any photos, and I barely remember what the rooms looked like. Afterward, we wandered through other parts of the palace and its extensive gardens, which seemed endless. Despite seeking out shade, the 40°C heat was relentless, so we took two breaks at the garden café, first for lunch and later for coffee.
We had specifically bought tickets for a Flamenco show that evening. After visiting the palace, we headed to the theater, only to find out we were at the wrong location. We called a Cabify (similar to Uber) in a rush and were lucky to get a good driver. Since some streets are pedestrian-only, he found a way to drop us as close as possible to the theater. Although we were a few minutes late, the show had just begun. Flamenco is a traditional Spanish performance that combines tap dance, singing, and instrumental music. The dancers were full of passion and energy.
After battling the heat all day, we finished by enjoying local tapas at a nearby restaurant.
2024年7月23日： 今天的塞维利亚（Seville）是我们这次行程到目前为止最热的一天，最高104F/40C度，绝对与凤凰城有得一拼。天虽热，但我们今天一整天的活动还是排得很满。
塞维利亚是一座历史悠久的欧洲重城。在大航海时代，它是新大陆贸易的独家港口，经济繁荣，不少重要建筑都始建于那时。后来由于河道淤积，贸易中心才迁移到它处，经济衰退。
早上在酒店用完自助早餐之后便出门前往第一站西班牙广场（Plaza de España）。这座巨大的半圆形建筑是为1929年在此举办的伊比利亚美洲博览会所建，如今里面主要是政府部门和展览馆。广场的墙壁上有许多壁龛，每个代表了西班牙的不同省份。我们首先参观了塞维利亚军事历史展览馆，然后上上下下把能走的地方走了一遍，非常漂亮让人惊叹的的建筑，手机根本拍不出那感觉。
接着我们来到塞维利亚大教堂（Seville Cathedral)。我们提前买好了带向导的票。这个建造在穆斯林清真寺旧址上的罗马大教堂历史非常悠久，如今是世界第三大的大教堂，同时也是最大的哥特式大教堂。大教堂内部结构可能是到目前为止我们所看到过的最壮观的一个。据介绍里面有80个礼拜堂（chapels），包括皇家礼拜堂（Royal chapel）。除了许多西班牙王室成员埋在那里，最著名的应该是哥伦布（Christopher Columbus）了。他的遗骨被搬迁过多次，最后来到这里。哥伦布的儿子也埋在这个大教堂。大教堂的钟楼也是非同寻常，曾经是旧清真寺的尖塔，之后改建教堂时被加高。上塔顶并不是走台阶，而是斜坡，按穆斯林传统逆时针方向一圈又一圈绕着走上去。
看完大教堂，来到旁边的塞维利亚王宫（Royal Alcázar of Seville)。我们也是来之前已买好票的。先参观王宫楼上的住宅区，这里现在还是国王的官方住宅，必须分开买票且按定点时间参观。这是到目前为止管得最严的一次，所有物品必须放储存柜，随身不能携带任何物品。每一组参观者大概也就十几个人。先过安检，然后二名保安一前一后带着我们走。每个房间都不能多停留，看完一个房间马上锁门去下一个。不能带手机，一张照片都没有，也不记得里面长什么样了。 接下来我们就在王宫的其它区域走走看看，王家花园大的走不完。40度高温下再怎么找阴凉处还是热，结果我们在花园里的cafe 休息了二次，先吃个午饭，之后又再回去喝个咖啡。
专门提前买了今天晚上弗拉明戈(Flamenco)表演的票，看完王宫后来到戏院，结果被告知走错地方了，再赶过去估计会迟到。急急忙忙叫了Cabify(类似Uber), 碰到了一位好司机。因为有些街道是步行街，司机想办法帮我们带到了离戏院最近的地方。虽然晚了几分钟，表演刚好开始。这是一种西班牙传统的集踢踏舞，歌唱和乐器一体的音乐表演，舞者非常的热情奔放。
战高温一整天，看完表演找了家Tapas店享受一下当地的小吃。
Return to Spain 重回西班牙
July 22, 2024
Today, we say goodbye to Portugal and head back to Spain......
今天我们要和葡萄牙说再见，。。。
July 22, 2024: Today, we say goodbye to Portugal and head back to Spain. Yesterday, we took a day trip outside of town, but we didn’t have enough time to properly explore Faro. Since we had some time this morning, we decided to start with breakfast in town, followed by a leisurely stroll around the small town, visiting a few historical sites in the old town.
As there’s no direct train from Faro, Portugal to Spain, we had to take a bus to our next destination, the historic city of Seville, Spain. While waiting for the bus, we squeezed in a quick lunch. The service was exceptional—the server even had the kitchen prepare the fish exactly to our liking. The two-hour bus ride was smooth and comfortable.
After a previous experience of being scammed by a taxi driver, we opted not to take a taxi upon arriving in Seville. Instead, we used Cabify, a ride-sharing service similar to Uber. The service was reasonably priced, very courteous, and even provided complimentary bottled water, which made us feel well taken care of. Cabify dropped us off at our hotel in the city center, and after checking in, we went out to explore the nearby streets.
Before coming to Spain, we had been wanting to try churros but hadn’t had the chance yet. We found a churro shop online right next to our hotel, so we headed straight there. We had never tasted churros this good before. They reminded us of Chinese fried dough sticks but were even tastier. The freshly fried churros, dipped in hot chocolate sauce and paired with a cup of coffee, were absolutely delightful. They were nothing like the churros we’ve had in the United States, making us wonder if those were perhaps the Mexican version.
Just a short distance from our hotel is one of Seville’s major attractions—the Metropol Parasol (Setas de Seville). It’s a striking wooden structure with a viewing platform, touted as the largest wooden structure in the world. Unfortunately, our phones couldn’t capture the full view, no matter how hard we tried.
In the evening, we treated ourselves to a hearty dinner at a tapas bar. While the dishes were enjoyable, they didn’t quite impress us as much as we had anticipated. Perhaps we’ve indulged in tapas a bit too often lately, and it’s beginning to lose its novelty.
2024年7月22日: 今天我们要和葡萄牙说再见，重新回到西班牙。昨天去镇外一日游，法鲁（Faro)小镇还没时间好好看过。趁早上还有些时间，先在镇上吃个早餐，然后悠闲地在小镇上走了一圈，在老城区参观了几个历史遗迹。由于葡萄牙法鲁这里的火车不通西班牙，我们只能乘坐巴士前往我们的下一站，西班牙历史古城塞维利亚（Seville)。等巴士的时候赶紧再吃个午餐，服务员的态度真好，特别让厨房按我们的要求做了鱼。二个多小时的大巴旅程既平稳又舒适。
因为之前有过被出租车司机诈骗的经历，到达塞维利亚后，我们没有再选择出租车，而是选择使用Cabify。这是一个类似于Uber的共享乘车服务。这个服务价格合理，态度非常好，还免费提供瓶装水，这让我们感到很贴心。Cabify把我们送到在市中心的酒店，办完入住手续后，我们便去周边的街区探路。
来西班牙之前就说要吃churro，但一直没机会吃。在网上查到我们酒店旁边有一家专卖churro的店铺，我们就直接去到那里。从来没有吃到过这么好吃的churro, 味道就像中国的油条，但比油条更好吃。现炸的churro蘸着热巧克力酱吃，再来杯咖啡，太享受了。和美国吃过churro完全不同，在怀疑我们的churro是否是墨西哥的版本。
离酒店不远处就是塞维利亚的一大景点 - 都市阳伞（Setas de Seville)。这是一座木建筑，很别致，有观景台等，号称世界上最大的木建筑。手机怎么都拍不出全景。
晚上在一家塔帕斯(Tapas)酒吧享用了一顿丰盛的晚餐。虽然这些菜肴还不错，但觉得并不特别出色。也许是Tapas 吃多了，有点腻了。
Benagil Cave and Marinha Beach 本尼格尔洞穴和马里尼亚海滩
July 21, 2024
Several weeks before we left for Europe,......
在出发前往欧洲的前几周，。。。
July 21, 2024: Several weeks before we left for Europe, we watched a travel segment on ABC's “Good Morning America” about Portugal’s Algarve region. It was so beautiful and captivating that we decided to change our plans and go to Faro instead of Porto. The Algarve is known for its breathtaking cliff-lined coastline on the southernmost tip of the country. Faro, the capital of the Algarve, is a historic town, but it’s about an hour’s drive from those natural wonders. To make the most of our visit, we joined a tour to explore the Benagil Cave and Marinha Beach.
Before the tour started, we visited the marketplace and had breakfast.
The tour started at 9 a.m., and since it was just the two of us, it turned into a private experience. Our tour guide, a British woman who has lived in Portugal for 20 years, first took us to a parking lot near Benagil Cave. We then walked to the cave, one of the most famous sea caves in the world. It has a skylight hole that beams sunlight to illuminate the sandy beach inside. From the opening, we watched tour boats and kayaks come and go, despite no-access restrictions from the government.
After visiting the cave, we continued our adventure along the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, known for its stunning views of cliffs, caves, and beaches. The scenery reminded us of the Great Ocean Road in Australia, which our friends had taken us to see.
After we reached Marinha Beach, our guide returned to the parking lot while we stayed on the beach for more than an hour. Marinha Beach is surrounded by cliffs on three sides, making it a popular spot. Like the locals, we set up an umbrella and enjoyed the beach. We also took a dip in the chilly Atlantic Ocean, savoring its refreshing embrace. Our guide picked us up to see a small historic church before returning to the city.
For dinner, we indulged in Algarve’s famous cataplana, a dish cooked in a clam-shaped copper or aluminum pot. The seafood cataplana we ordered was so delicious that we finished every bite.
Today was a very good day. After spending so much time in big cities, we finally had the chance to enjoy some of nature’s wonders.
2024年7月21日: 在出发前往欧洲的前几周，我们观看了美国广播公司《早安美国》关于葡萄牙阿尔加维地区的旅行专题节目。该地区的自然风景美丽迷人，以至于我们决定改变计划，前往法鲁(Faro)而不是波尔图(Porto)。阿尔加维以其位于该国最南端的令人惊叹的悬崖海岸线而闻名。法鲁是阿尔加维的首府，是一座历史悠久的小城镇，但距离那些自然奇观大约有一个小时的车程。为了充分利用我们的时间，我们报名参加了当地的一日游，去本尼格尔洞穴和马里尼亚海滩。
旅行团在早上9点集合，由于其他游客临时取消，只有我们两个人参加，这次旅行变成了私人游。我们的导游是一位在葡萄牙生活了20年的英国女士，她首先在本尼格尔洞穴附近的一个停车场停车。然后带我们走到这个洞穴，这是世界上最著名的海洞之一。洞穴顶部有一个天窗，阳光透过它照射进来，照亮了里面的沙滩。通过洞口，我们看到旅游船和皮划艇进进出出，尽管政府对此有限制。
参观完洞穴后，我们继续沿着七悬谷步道走，这条步道以其悬崖、洞穴和海滩的壮丽景色而闻名。这里的风景让我们想起了澳大利亚的大洋路，我们的朋友曾带我们去那里游玩过。
到达马里尼亚海滩后，导游给了我们一个半小时的时间在海滩上。她一人走回停车场，然后开车到海滩接我们。马里尼亚海滩三面被悬崖环绕，是一个非常受欢迎的景点。像当地人一样，我们在海滩上支起了遮阳伞，享受着眼前的美景。我们还跳入水中，寒冷的大西洋水让人不能在水里多待，湿湿脚还行。继海滩之后导游又带我们去参观了一座小型历史悠久的教堂，然后返回法鲁小镇。
晚餐时，我们品尝了昨晚上房东推荐的阿尔加维著名的Cataplana，这是一种用拱形状的铜锅或铝锅烹制的菜肴。我们点的海鲜Cataplana非常美味，我们把锅里的食物全部吃完了。
前些天一直在大城市的转悠，终于有机会享受一些自然奇观，感觉真是美好的一天。
Travel Day下一站
July 20, 2024
Before leaving Lisbon, we took a ferry across the Tagus River......
离开里斯本之前，今天我们赶早去了最后一个景点。
July 20, 2024: Before leaving Lisbon, we took a ferry across the Tagus River to Almada on the other side.
Then, we took a bus to the Sanctuary of Christ the King in Portugal and took the elevator up to the observation deck to enjoy a panoramic view of Lisbon.
Afterward, we took the bus back to the ferry terminal and had lunch at a seafood restaurant. We ordered shrimp and clams, which turned out to be one of the best meals we had on this trip.
In the afternoon, we had to say goodbye to Lisbon and boarded a train to Faro, the capital city of the Algarve region. Unfortunately, the train was delayed by 50 minutes.
We arrived in Faro around 9 PM. We rented a short-term apartment (similar to Airbnb). Our host had to wait for us until late at night. The unit was a 10-minute walk from the train station, but dragging our luggage through the cobblestone streets was not fun. Cobblestone streets are a significant part of Portugal's national character and are almost everywhere, including inside the train station and malls in some places. Despite the challenging walk, the rented unit was very nice and well-designed.
2024年7月20日: 离开里斯本之前，今天我们赶早去了最后一个景点。乘渡轮穿过塔霍河，前往对岸的阿尔马达。然后坐巴士前往葡萄牙的基督国王圣殿，并乘电梯上到观景台，欣赏里斯本的全景。再坐巴士返回渡轮码头，并在一家海鲜餐馆吃午饭。我们点了虾，生蚝，蛤蜊和烤鱼，这是我们这次旅行中最好吃的一顿饭之一。
下午，我们不得不告别里斯本，乘坐火车前往阿尔加维地区的首府法鲁（Faro)。再一次遇到火车误点，晚了50分钟。
我们大约在晚上9点多终于抵达法鲁。我们租了一间公寓（类似Airbnb），没有那种24小时前台服务。好心的房东就一直等着我们到夜晚，还仔仔细细给我们介绍了小镇及周边的景点，还有当地的特色美食。公寓离火车站有10分钟的步行路程，但拖着行李穿过鹅卵石街道并不轻松。鹅卵石街道是葡萄牙的国家特色，几乎无处不在，甚至在火车站和一些商场内都有。尽管走路有些不便，但租住的公寓非常漂亮且设计精致。
Sintra, Portugal 辛特拉
July 19, 2024
We started early today to catch a train to Sintra.
今天我们早早出发。。。
July 19, 2024: We started early today to catch a train to Sintra. Due to incorrect information displayed on the screen, we ended up on the wrong train, which was heading in the general direction but stopping at a different station. Along with several fellow travelers, we realized our mistake in the middle of the ride and quickly hopped off to catch the right train. We finally arrived in Sintra before 9 am.
The shuttle to Pena Palace (bus 434) was conveniently located outside the train station. After a 30-minute ride, we reached the palace. Our ticket included transportation from the main entrance to the palace itself, saving us a 30-minute uphill walk.
Arriving at the magnificent Pena Palace a couple of hours before our time slot to visit the interior, we spent the morning exploring the outside. We were captivated by the breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding area and the colorful exterior and eclectic architectural styles of the buildings.
As the day progressed, more tourists arrived, and the place became quite crowded. Fortunately, it was time for us to enter the palace. Having visited many European palaces before, we found that this one, though beautiful, didn’t particularly stand out for us.
Next, we walked down to the medieval Moorish Castle, dating back to the 8th or 9th century. We climbed up the walls to the highest point, which offered an incredible panoramic view of Sintra.
We combined a bus and hike to reach Quinta da Regaleira, a Gothic-style mansion surrounded by lush gardens, enigmatic grottoes, and mystical symbols. Our main purpose was to see the Initiation Well, a spiral staircase descending into the earth, which was particularly fascinating.
After our visit, we took a train to the main train station to reserve seats for our next segment. We then headed to the shopping mall next to the station for a simple dinner. The food court offerings were more akin to the fast foods found in malls in the states, lacking various seafood and tapas bars. We guessed that salted fish, grilled shrimp, and cured hams might not be part of their daily diet. Instead, we had Brazilian pork and Pad Thai. On the terrace, people of different ages were dancing to DJ music, creating a lively yet peaceful scene. They certainly knew how to dance.
2024年7月19日: 今天我们早早出发，赶火车去里斯本外面的辛特拉（Sintra)。由于屏幕上显示的信息错误，我们上错了火车，虽然方向大致正确，但火车会停在不同的车站。和几位同车前往的旅客一起，我们在途中发现了这个错误，赶紧下车换乘了正确的火车。我们终于在早上9点前到达了辛特拉。
佩纳宫（National Palace of Pena)的接驳车（434路公交车）就在火车站外。经过30分钟的车程，我们到达了佩纳宫的公园门口。我们的佩纳宫门票包括从公园主入口到宫殿的交通服务，又省去了30分钟的上坡路程。
我们比预定参观宫殿内部的时间提前了二个小时到达，正好先在漂亮的佩纳宫外面游览。我们来的早，游客还不多，比较安静。佩纳宫色彩斑斓的外墙和精美的装饰绝对是个明信片的景点。除了王宫，附近还有城堡，庄园等历史古迹。
随着时间的推移，越来越多的游客到来，地方变得非常拥挤。但这时正好是我们进入宫殿的时间。可能是我们之前参观过太多欧洲的宫殿，一个比一个奢华，好像觉得这宫内并没有特别突出的地方。
接着，我们步行前往中世纪的摩尔人（穆斯林）城堡（Moorish Castle), 建于8、9世纪。我们爬上城墙的最高点，那里可以俯瞰辛特拉的全景。
我们乘公交车加徒步来到了雷加莱拉庄园，这是一座哥特风格的豪宅，周围环绕着茂密的花园、神秘的洞穴和神秘的符号。我们的主要目的是参观螺旋井，这是一座通往地下的螺旋楼梯，非常别致。
辛特拉一日游结束后，我们乘火车来达里斯本的火车总站，为下一段行程预定了座位。然后我们前往火车站旁边的购物中心，享用简单的晚餐。美食广场提供的食物更像是我们在商场里看到的快餐，没有各种海鲜和小吃吧，没有腌鱼、烤虾和风干火腿。我们吃了巴西烤肉和泰式炒河粉。
在购物中心露台上，不同年龄段的人随着DJ的音乐跟着台上领舞的一起跳舞，场面很热闹，他们确实很会跳舞。
Disembark at Lisbon 里斯本下船
July 18, 2024
Our 7-day cruise ended in Lisbon today,......
天下没有不散的筵席，。。。
July 18, 2024: Our 7-day cruise ended in Lisbon today, but our journey continued. We disembarked at 9 am. The cobblestone street is not suitcase-friendly, so we decided to take a taxi to our hotel, even though the hotel is not far from the cruise terminal. We immediately ran into an unpleasant surprise: a taxi driver demanded 30 euros for a trip that was less than a 10-minute walk. It seems taxis in Spain and Portugal aren't well-regulated. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. We decided to look for other options later on.
Our hotel is in the heart of a bustling restaurant and bar area. After a brief rest, we set out to explore the city. First, we joined a walking tour in Alfama, one of Lisbon's oldest and most picturesque neighborhoods. History is alive here. Initially built by Muslims, it later saw Jews opening stores and banks. Then, Christians conquered the area, leading to the conversion or execution of Muslims and Jews. But the story took an intriguing turn. On the morning of November 1, 1755, All Saints' Day, a massive earthquake struck Lisbon while Christians were at home celebrating, leading to fires that destroyed 85% of the buildings, including the royal palace. However, Alfama was largely spared since the converted Muslims and Jews did not observe the Christian holiday at home, preserving its medieval character. Today, it is one of Lisbon's top tourist attractions.
At the end of the tour, our guide took us to Pastelaria Santo António, where we tried our first custard tarts in Portugal. They were too sweet for our taste. Our guide also suggested a 5 euro sandwich café for lunch, which had a long queue. We didn’t want to wait; we had other plans: go to the Time Out Market. This market features high-quality food and drink vendors in a lively food hall setting. It was very crowded, unlike anything we had seen before. We ordered a few tapas and enjoyed the bustling atmosphere.
After lunch, we took a train to Belém to try the original and famous custard tarts (Pasteis de Nata) at Pasteis de Belem, based on a secret recipe created by nuns. The line wasn't very long that day, but the tarts, though famous, were still too sweet for us.
Having checked off that item on our to-do list, we visited the nearby Jeronimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site. We then walked to the Monument to Discoveries before heading back to the city.
Tonight, we had a fine dinner and Fado show at O Faria in Alfama. Dinner reservations are available from 7:00 to 8:30 pm and feature a fixed-price menu with a starter, main course, and dessert. The food was delicious and high quality. The Fado show started at 9:00 pm and had three sessions with 20-minute breaks for diners to enjoy their meals. The show ended at 11:00 pm. For us, it was a four-hour dinner. Exhausted, we returned to our hotel, but the streets seemed to just be coming alive.
2024年7月18日: 天下没有不散的筵席，我们为期7天的邮轮旅行今天结束了，但我们的旅程还在继续。我们在上午9点在葡萄牙首都里斯本（Lisbon)下船，却遇到了一个不愉快的小插曲：尽管从船码头到我们的酒店步行不到10分钟，因为拖着行李箱在碎石路上走太累，我们叫了出租车，结果出租车司机开口就要求30欧元。看来西班牙和葡萄牙的出租车监管都不好。连续二次被出租车司机骗，我们决定以后不再用出租车，而是寻找其它出行方式。
我们的酒店位于热闹的餐馆和酒吧区的中心。稍作休息后，我们便出门赶着去参加预定好的“免费”的阿尔法玛区（Alfama)徒步游。这里是里斯本最古老、最漂亮的街区之一。导游介绍说这里最初由穆斯林建造，后来犹太人迁入开设商店和银行。之后，基督徒征服了这个地区，穆斯林和犹太人要么被迫皈依，要么被处决。1775年11月1日是个圣徒日，基督徒在家生火做饭庆祝节日时，一场大地震袭来，因作饭的火而引发的火灾摧毁了85%的建筑物，包括皇宫。然而，阿尔法玛区大部分建筑幸存下来，因为皈依的穆斯林和犹太人没有在家庆祝基督教节日，其中世纪的建筑特色得以保存。今天，它是里斯本的顶级旅游景点之一。
昨天在船上的讲座有提到著名的葡萄牙蛋挞。今天导游介绍说葡萄牙蛋挞有二个版本。徒步游结束时，她带我们去了圣安东尼奥糕点店，这家是二个版本中的一个，我们在那里尝试了葡萄牙行的第一个蛋挞。中间用蛋黄酱制成，对我们来说实在太甜了，根本咽不下去。导游还建议我们去一家很热门的5欧元三明治餐厅吃午饭。看到那里的队伍很长我们就放弃了，而是来到Time Out市场，一家设有许多高质量饮食摊位，很有人气的室内市场。我们点了几份小吃，享受一下当地热闹氛围。炒蛤蜊非常新鲜美味，四季豆天妇罗也是绝佳。
午餐后，我们乘火车去了贝伦（Belem）， 那里是最著名的葡萄牙蛋挞（奶油蛋挞）所在地。修道院边上的蛋挞店卖的是另一个版本的蛋挞，也是原创版本，由修女创造的秘方制作。那天店排队的人不算太多，我们高高兴兴又买了几个。但很失望，所有这些著名的蛋挞对我们来说都太甜了。
接着我们参观了旁边的杰罗尼莫斯修道院，这是联合国教科文组织的世界遗产。然后我们步行到发现者纪念碑，之后返回市区。
今晚，我们在阿尔法玛的O Faria餐厅享用了一顿美餐并观看了法朵表演。晚餐可以在晚上7:00到8:30之间预订，提供固定价格的菜单，包括前菜、主菜和甜点。食物美味且高质量。法朵表演从晚上9点开始，分三个阶段，每个阶段间有20分钟的休息时间，让顾客享用晚餐。演出在晚上11点结束。对我们来说，这是一个四小时的晚餐。疲惫不堪的我们回到酒店，但街上的人们似乎才刚刚开始夜生活。
At Sea 海上行
July 17, 2024
Finally, we had a sea day to catch our breath......
今天终于迎来了一个海上休息日。。。
July 17, 2024: Finally, we had a sea day to catch our breath. Up until this point, every day of the cruise had brought us to a new port, and we had joined a shore excursion at each one. We consistently chose the most challenging options available, and the physical toll was starting to catch up with us as age began to take its toll. However, a sea day on a Crystal Cruise isn’t exactly a day of rest. The cruise always offers top-notch lectures and speeches, and this time was no exception.
In the morning, Dr. James Allison, a Nobel laureate in medicine, and his wife gave a talk on the cancer immunotherapy that Allison pioneered. In the afternoon, Nando Parrado, one of the sixteen survivors of a plane crash, recounted his harrowing experience. After spending two months stranded on a snow-covered mountain, he climbed out over ten days to seek help. His remarkable survival story has been adapted into several films, the most recent being "The Society of Snow," a Netflix show. The story was absolutely riveting. We also attended a presentation regarding the upcoming city and it’s culture. We can’t wait to try the famous Portugal custard tart.
Afternoon tea with live music was very nice. Both the pianist and violinist were fantastic. In the evening, we treated ourselves to Italian dishes at the special restaurant OSTERIA D’OVIDIO.
2024年7月17日：今天终于迎来了一个海上休息日。上船至今每一天我们都停靠在一个新港口，白天参加岸上游活动。我们总是选择所有活动中最具挑战性的项目，而船上每晩的音乐会又都安排在很晚。早出晚归，几天下来我们感到身体非常疲惫，很明显年龄的增长在影响着我们，体力一年不如一年。然而，Crystal邮轮上的海上行也不是一个放松的日子，海上行时总是会安排一些高质量的讲座，这次也不例外。
上午，诺贝尔医学奖得主詹姆斯·艾利森博士和他的妻子谈到了艾利森开创的癌症免疫疗法。下午，飞机失事幸存者之一南多·帕拉多(Nando Parrado)分享了他惊心动魄的经历，失事后，他和他幸存的鲁比球队队员们在雪山上度过了两个月后，他花了十天时间爬出山脉去寻求帮助。他们生存故事多次被改编成电影，最新的一部是Netflix的《雪之社》(The Society of Snow), 这个故事非常引人入胜。
接下来我们又听了一个关于葡萄牙里斯本（Lisbon)的讲座，除了历史和文化，对我们来说印象最深的就是著名的葡萄牙蛋挞。其实蛋挞吃过不少，自己也做过，但想到终于有机会可以品尝到最正宗的这款点心，还是很兴奋的。
下午讲座结束后有时间去享用下午茶，一边品尝喷香的绿茶和美味的点心，一边欣赏钢琴和小提琴演奏，弹琴是一位漂亮的韩国女孩，好像有不少优兔的粉丝。
晚上我们在船上的另一特色餐厅OSTERIA D’OVIDIO享用了美味的意大利菜肴。
Casablanca, Morocco 卡萨布兰卡
July 16, 2024
Africa is the seventh continent we have set foot on, ......
非洲是我们踏足的第七个大陆，。。。
July 16, 2024: Africa is the seventh continent we have set foot on, although Morocco represents just a small part of this vast continent. Our ship docked at Casablanca, the largest city in Morocco, which serves as the economic and business center of the country. The city’s rich history has been shaped by influences from Berber, Phoenician, Roman, and Arab civilizations, as well as the French occupation.
We joined an 8-hour city tour focused on the diverse cultures of Casablanca. The tour included visits to a Jewish museum, a cathedral, and the Hassan II Mosque, the 3rd largest mosque in the world. However, the cathedral and the museum felt rather ordinary, reflecting the diverse cultures that Morocco has adopted over time.
Built on reclaimed land from the sea, the Hassan II Mosque is the most beautiful one we have ever visited, with stunning architecture, scale, and craftsmanship. Unlike many other mosques, it has no strict requirements for female visitors, which we appreciated.
Lunch was served in a beautiful Moroccan restaurant where we enjoyed six side dishes and chicken couscous, accompanied by live music. After lunch, our tour guide took us to an old gift shop, attempting to persuade us to buy Aloe oil. Not many of us were interested, preferring to explore elsewhere. However, the guide claimed the area was unsafe, perhaps as a strategy to keep us in the store. Despite this, we wandered around the city center near the public market, which was bustling with people and cars. Feeling quite safe, we briefly explored the market before returning to the bus.
Our final stop was at a rooftop bar overlooking the ocean and a public beach. The view was beautiful, but our time there was limited as we had to return to the ship. The ship left the port late at night. As we departed, we noticed the green laser beam from the tower of the Hassan II Mosque pointing east.
2024年7月16日：非洲是我们踏足的第七个大陆，虽然摩洛哥(Morocco)只是这个广阔大陆的一小部分，终于完成了走访全部七个大陆的心愿。我们的船昨晚离开直布罗陀后，前往对面的摩洛哥。今天一早停靠在卡萨布兰卡(Casablanca), 摩洛哥最大的城市，也是该国的经济和商业中心。这个城市的丰富历史受到了柏柏尔人、腓尼基人、罗马人和阿拉伯文明以及法国殖民时期的影响。
我们参加了船上组织的为时8小时的卡萨布兰卡深度游。行程安排包括参观犹太博物馆、大教堂和哈桑二世清真寺，后者是世界上第三大清真寺。哈桑二世清真寺建在填海造地的土地上，通体使用白色大理石砌成，宣礼塔高达200米，是我们见过的最美丽的清真寺，其建筑、规模和工艺令人惊叹。与许多其它清真寺不同，这里对女性游客没有严格要求，这一点我们非常欣赏。
午餐在一家很有当地风情的摩洛哥餐厅享用，有六道小配菜，再加鸡肉库斯库斯作为主菜。我们好像是第一次吃摩洛哥菜，今天的每一道都非常美味。另外午餐时还有现场音乐表演。之后导游带我们去了一个礼品店，试图说服我们购买摩洛哥坚果仁油（Argan oil)和芦荟精华液（Aloe)。我们中的大多数人对此并不感兴趣，而是更想去周围其它地方看看。然而导游声称该地区不安全，可能是为了让我们留在店里。尽管如此，我们俩还是走到礼品店附近的公共市场以及不远处的市中心，那里人车熙攘。我们感到很安全，简单游览了市场后便返回了大巴。
我们今天行程的最后一站是一个俯瞰大海和公共海滩的屋顶酒吧，景色很美。但由于时间关系，我们在上面喝了点酒水，稍作休息后便不得不返回船上。
船在深夜离港。离开时，我们注意到哈桑二世清真寺塔楼的绿色激光束指向东方。
Gibraltar, Britain 直布罗陀
July 15, 2024
Even if you haven’t visited Gibraltar before,......
即使你从未去过直布罗陀，。。。
July 15, 2024: Even if you haven’t visited Gibraltar before, you probably recognize its famous rock formation from the iconic logo of Prudential Financial. Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula. It is bordered to the north by Spain and overlooks the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. It is tiny but strategically important. Due to the Red Sea conflict, a significant number of commercial vessels are now passing through the area.
Our shore excursion took us via the cable car to the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, home to the famous Barbary macaques—the only wild monkey population in Europe. The reserve has a narrow road along the ridge. While the road is one-way for taxis, people and monkeys can freely wander.
It is the Monkey’s kingdom. Monkeys jumped on the car or stole someone’s bread or ice cream. We were both nervous and excited to see so many monkeys and their babies.
We also visited a huge cave. The 5-minute film shown on the rock wall was unique and beautiful. Then, we toured the Great Siege Tunnels, created during the 18th century inside the north face of the Rock. Gibraltar now has a total of 30 miles of tunnels, longer than its roads.
The visit to Gibraltar was the best so far, but we are very excited about tomorrow’s port of call.
2024年7月15日：即使你从未去过直布罗陀（Gibraltar），你可能也会从保德信金融（Prudential Financial)的标志中认出那著名的岩石形状。直布罗陀是一个位于伊比利亚半岛南端的英国海外领地。它北接西班牙，在连接大西洋和地中海的直布罗陀海峡的南面就是非洲, 海峡最窄处仅有八英里。尽管面积非常小，但它具有极其重要的战略意义。由于红海上冲突，如今有大量商船通过直布罗陀海峡。
今天我们还是参加船上组织的岸上游。先是通过缆车带我们来到了上岩自然保护区，这是著名的巴巴里猕猴的家园——欧洲唯一的野生猴群。保护区有一条沿山脊的狭窄道路。虽然这条路是单行道，仅供出租车通行，但行人和猴子可以自由穿行。看到这么多猴子和它们的小宝宝，我们既紧张又兴奋。我们的导游一再强调千万不要投喂猴子，且必须看好自己的包包。猴子们会跳上车子找东西，我们眼看着它们抢走行人手中的食物。
山里还有一个巨大的岩洞，里面定时放映5分钟关于岩洞的影片，直接用洞壁作屏幕，360度全景，非常独特。随后，我们游览了18世纪在岩石北面挖掘的“大围攻隧道”。直布罗陀现在有总长30英里的隧道，比其道路还长。
这次直布罗陀之行是迄今为止最棒的岸上游。但我们对明天的停靠港也非常期待。
Cartagena, Spain 卡塔赫纳
July 14, 2024
Cartagena is a port city on the southern coast of Spain,......
卡塔赫纳是西班牙南部海岸的一座港口城市,。。。
July 14, 2024: Cartagena is a port city on the southern coast of Spain, boasting over 2,500 years of rich and diverse history. Our ship docked near the city center, and our tour began with a visit to the city hall and the plaza.
The city was ruled by Muslims at one time. In 1988, a Roman theatre was discovered buried during the Moorish Period under a ruined house during demolition. The tour we joined took us to see the Roman theatre and climb to the highest point in the city (350 ft up) for panoramic views. However, more than half of the group quit before reaching the summit. Then, we visited a bomb shelter cave used during the Spanish Civil War, during which much of the city was destroyed. Although Spain didn’t participate in World War I and II, the Civil War saw brothers killing each other, leading to a dictatorship under Francisco Franco.
New and Old Amphitheater
After three hours of walking under the scorching sun, we were exhausted and decided to go back to the ship for a break. We returned to the city for more exploration after a quick lunch. Away from the tourists, we wandered through the narrow streets to see a more authentic side of the town. We also visited more archaeological sites and museums.
Dinner was at Taste Café, and we watched the European Cup final in the Hollywood Theatre. Many Spanish fans were very happy.
2024年7月14日：卡塔赫纳(Cartagena)是西班牙南部海岸的一座港口城市，拥有超过2500年的丰富历史。它曾经被穆斯林统治过。1988年，在拆除破旧房屋时发现了一座埋在地下的罗马剧场。我们参加船上组织的岸上游带我们参观了这座罗马剧场，并爬上城市的最高点（350英尺）欣赏全景。然而，因为要走很多台阶，超过一半的团员在到达山顶之前就放弃了。接着我们参观了西班牙内战期间使用的防空洞，当时整个城市几乎被摧毁。虽然西班牙没有参与第一次和第二次世界大战，但在内战中兄弟相残，最终还导致了弗朗西斯科·佛朗哥的独裁统治直此1975年他的去死。
在烈日下上上下下走了三个多小时后，我们感到筋疲力尽，决定回船休息。简单吃过午饭后，我们再次下船自由行。远离游客，穿梭在小巷中看看这个城市更真实的一面。同时也参观了更多的考古遗址和博物馆。
晚餐是在船上的国际餐厅Taste享用的。之后我们俩一个听音乐会，一个观看了欧洲杯决赛。今晚是西班牙对英格兰。白天自由行时在一个广场上看到为了今晚的足球比赛而设置的户外大屏幕以及排得整整齐齐的椅子，估计晚上那里应该是人山人海了。我们船上西班牙球迷不少，除了影院，船上还在其它地方都安排了大屏幕实况转播，大家非常开心。
Mahón, Spain 马翁
July 13, 2024
We docked at Mahón, the capital of Menorca island in Spain......
今天我们来到西班牙梅诺卡岛的首府马翁。
July 13, 2024: We docked at Mahón, the capital of Menorca island in Spain. Known for being the second deepest natural harbor in the world after Pearl Harbor, Mahón offers a blend of history and natural beauty.
We joined a ship-organized shore excursion called Authentic Menorca. The tour first took us to Monte Toro, the highest peak on the island, providing the best panoramic views. At the summit, we visited a sanctuary and a small church run by six to seven nuns, who we encountered after they completed their prayers.
Next, we visited a local shoe store of a famous Spanish brand, which unfortunately turned out to be a waste of time for us. However, the following stop at a multigenerational family dairy farm was both informative and interesting. We observed the cheese-making process and toured the dairy farm, followed by a delightful tasting of cheese and sausage.
Our final stop was the famous cave bar, Cova d'en Xoroi, located on the south coast of the island. This natural cave, situated in the cliffs, offers stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea. Each of us received a ticket to exchange for a drink. Cova d'en Xoroi is a popular spot for both daytime sightseeing and nighttime entertainment. Sadly, we didn’t have enough time to finish our drinks before we had to hop back on the bus to the terminal. We wished we had more time to relax and enjoy the view.
Dinner in the evening was at the Waterside restaurant, where we ordered a delicious T-bone steak that was too big to finish. The escargot dish was also top-notch.
2024年7月13日：今天我们来到西班牙梅诺卡岛（Menorca)的首府马翁(Mahón）。马翁被认为是世界上第二深的天然港口，仅次于美国的珍珠港。
我们参加了船上安排的“真实的梅诺卡”岸上游。首先大巴带着我们前往岛上的最高峰——蒙特托罗山（Mirador Cim del Toro），从那里可以欣赏到全岛美景。在山顶上有一个由六，七位年轻修女管理的一座小教堂。我们进去参观时碰巧遇见了刚刚完成祈祷的修女们。
接下来导游带我们去了一家西班牙当地生产的世界著名品牌的鞋店，可惜我们对品牌一无所知，对购物不感兴趣。倒是接下来的一站，一个几代相传的家庭奶牛场更有吸引力。我们看到了奶酪制作过程，参观了奶牛场，并品尝了美味的奶酪和香肠。
我们的最后一站是岛南海岸著名的洞穴酒吧Cova d'en Xoroi。这个天然洞穴位于悬崖上，提供了令人惊叹的地中海美景。我们车上每人都发一张可以兑换饮品的票。Cova d'en Xoroi是白天观光和夜间娱乐的热门地点。真希望我们能有多些时间在这里好好享受美景，只可惜我们连饮料都还没喝完就不得不跳上回码头的大巴。
晚上我们在船上的主餐厅用餐。法式焗蜗牛非常美味。点了一份T骨牛排，份量大到根本吃不完。另外可能之前在巴塞罗那海鲜饭吃多了，今晚的海鲜饭就觉得很一般了。
Port Vendres and Collioure 旺德尔港和科利乌尔
July 12, 2024
Our first port of call was Port Vendres......
我们游轮的第一站是法国的旺德尔港。。。
July 12, 2024: Our first port of call was Port Vendres. We joined the ship-organized tour of "Hike through Wine Country." The hike was a 3-4 mile trek through vineyards, over hills, and down to a winemaker, Cellier Dominicain, in Collioure, France. The cellar, originally a church, had been converted into a winemaking facility. We tasted six different wines there, but couldn’t tell the difference.
After the wine tasting, we spent an hour in Collioure. The lively town was noticeably more crowded than Port Vendres, with throngs of tourists filling the streets, making it clear that Collioure is a well-loved vacation destination.
We then took a trolley back to the tender port. Instead of heading back to the ship directly, we wandered around the town and noticed locals enjoying bowls of steamed mussels at a restaurant. The temptation was too great to pass by. We sat down and ordered a big bowl of garlic mussels with French fries to share. The mussels were exceptional, unlike any we've had before.
Tonight, we dined at Umi Uma by Nobu restaurant, a reservation we secured before boarding the ship. Instead of opting for hot main courses, we indulged in sashimi and tempura. As always, Nobu did not disappoint, leaving us completely satisfied with our meal.
2024年7月12日：我们游轮的第一站是法国的旺德尔港（Port Vendres)。我们参加了游轮组织的“葡萄酒乡徒步游”。这个徒步游翻过山丘，穿过葡萄园，大概走了3～4英里的距离，然后来到法国科利乌尔（Collioure)的酿酒厂，Cellier Dominicain。这个酿酒厂以前是一座教堂，现在改成了酿酒厂。我们品尝了六种不同的葡萄酒，喝不出什么名堂来。
品酒结束后，我们有一个小时的时间在科利乌尔自由活动。这个小镇比旺德尔港要漂亮的多。沙滩上不少人，街上都是游客，显然是一个热门的度假胜地。
然后我们乘坐小电车返回旺德尔港。我们没有直接回到船上，而是在镇上闲逛。路过一家小餐厅，看到当地人都在吃青口，人人一大碗。这个诱惑太大了，我们无法抗拒。于是我们也坐下来，点了一大碗蒜味青口和薯条分享。青口个头是比较小的那种，非常美味。其实我们俩平时并不怎么喜欢吃青口，但今天这碗真是好吃，这一大碗没几分钟就解决掉了。
今天晚餐是在Nobu的Umi Uma餐厅享用。早在上船前就已预定好了。今晚没有叫热的主菜，而是以生鱼片和天妇罗为主。Nubu还是一如既往地让我们吃得满意而归。
Picasso and Symphony 毕加索与水晶交响号邮轮
July 11, 2024
In the morning, we went to a small bakery ......
今天早上，我们去了酒店附近的一家小面包店。。。
July 11, 2024: In the morning, we went to a small bakery near the hotel to grab a couple of pastries for breakfast. Then we visited the Picasso Museum. As an adult, Picasso lived between Barcelona and Paris. He donated a lot of his early work to Barcelona, so the museum we visited exhibits mostly his early works, which allows us to see other sides of his artistic talents before the Cubism period.
Afterward, we picked up our luggage from the hotel and took a taxi to the cruise terminal to start our Mediterranean cruise with Crystal Symphony. Since taxis to the port are one-way business, the driver charged a fixed fee of 30 euro for the ride, probably twice what it should be.
The embarking process was smooth and fast. Ten minutes later, we sat down in the Marketplace to have our first meal. Crystal Symphony is a small ship with a maximum capacity of just over 600 passengers. Usually, the demographic on Crystal cruise ships leans toward an older population. On previous voyages, we always joked about being the youngest group. To our surprise, this time we felt like we belonged to the oldest group. There were a lot of young passengers, from babies to teenagers. We were told there are more than 70 kids on board.
We spent the rest of the afternoon checking out the ship. Although we have cruised on its sister ship Crystal Serenity several times, this is our first time onboard the Crystal Symphony.
Tonight’s dinner was at the Waterside. As always, each dish was done beautifully and tasted delicious. At 8 pm, as the song “What a Wonderful World” was playing, our ship left Barcelona.
2024年7月11日：今天早上，我们去了酒店附近的一家小面包店，买了几块小面包作为早餐。然后赶往我们在巴塞罗那的最后一个景点 - 毕加索博物馆。成年后，毕加索生活在巴塞罗那和巴黎之间。他向巴塞罗那捐赠了很多他早期的作品，所以我们参观的博物馆以他的早期作品为主，让我们看到了毕加索在立体派风格之前的艺术才华。
回酒店拿了行李便打车去了邮轮港口，又一次登上我们最爱的水晶邮轮公司(Crystal Cruises)的船，开始我们欧洲最南端的西班牙和葡萄牙邮轮之旅。由于去港口的出租车是单程业务，司机收了30欧元的固定费用，可能是正常价格的两倍多。到了船码头听到其他乘客抱怨，也有同样的经历。
登船过程顺利而快捷。十分钟后，我们已经在船上的Marketplace自助餐厅坐下，享用我们船上的第一餐。这次我们坐的是水晶邮轮公司的另一艘船 - 水晶交响号（Crystal Symphony), 她比我们之前坐过的水晶尚宁号稍小些，最大载客量刚刚超过600人。通常水晶邮轮上的乘客年龄偏大。在之前的航行中，我们总是开玩笑说自己是船上最年轻的一群。令我们惊讶的是，这次我们感觉自己是最老的一群。这次船上有很多年轻乘客，从婴儿到青少年，且有不少三代同游的。据说船上有近70个孩子，给船上带来巨大的活力。
今天晚餐我们选在主餐厅，每一道菜都做的精致，入味。晚上八点左右我们的船在“What a wonderful world”的歌声中离开巴塞罗那。音乐演出照旧安排在9:45，对我们来说虽有点晚，但还是不能错过的。
一直盼着能来西班牙和葡萄牙，这次终于成行，很兴奋很期待。